Louisville (26-18, 10-11 ACC) went 4-0 last week for the first time since week three of the season, getting a victory over rival Kentucky in the midweek game, then sweeping Clemson last weekend. The Cardinals are now riding a five-game win streak (tied for their longest this season), as they prepare for the last three weeks of the regular season.
Louisville hosts Indiana on Tuesday at Jim Patterson Stadium, before heading to Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on Wake Forest.
Last Week in Cliff Notes
Louisville won all four games last week, scoring at least seven runs in all four and 10+ runs in three out of four games.
The week started with a 14-10 victory over Kentucky, evening their annual Battle of the Bluegrass series at 1-1. It was one of the most eventful games this season for the Cardinals, one that saw both teams combine for 24 runs, 25 hits (12 for extra bases), 19 walks (including 14 by Kentucky’s pitching staff), and three errors (all by Kentucky). Six Louisville players had multi-hit games against UK, including Zion Rose (2-for-5, three RBI) and Bayram Hot (2-for-6, two RBI), who both hit a home run in the seventh inning.
Game one of the Clemson series was arguably more eventful for the Cardinals, as Louisville took a 13-10 victory over the Tigers after multiple rain delays. The game also saw both teams combine for 23 runs, 25 hits (ten for extra bases), 19 strikeouts, and six errors (including five by Clemson). Louisville managed to get a 10-4 lead after six innings, with Tague Davis and Ben Slanker hitting home runs in the first and sixth innings, respectively. Clemson closed Louisville’s lead to 10-8 with four runs in the seventh inning, but the Cardinals answered with three of their own in the eighth to push the game out of reach.
Louisville took game two with an 11-6 win over Clemson, with the Tigers once again having five errors (part of Clemson’s 11 in the weekend series). Clemson took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning with home runs from Nate Savoie and Jacob Jarrell, but Louisville would take the lead with six unanswered runs from the second to the sixth innings. Ben Slanker cut Clemson’s lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the second. Jimmy Nugent’s solo home run and a dropped fly ball by Clemson, which added two more runs for Louisville, gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. RBI singles by Alex Alicea and Zion Rose extended Louisville’s lead to 6-3, but Clemson tied it at 6-6 with three runs in the seventh. A five-spot by Louisville in the eighth inning would give the Cardinals the lead for good, and earn them their first series win since taking two out of three versus Notre Dame last month.
Jimmy Nugent’s walk-off home run in the tenth inning gave Louisville a 7-5 victory over Clemson, earning the Cardinals their first sweep in conference play this season. It capped off a tremendous weekend at the plate for Nugent, who hit 7-for-14 (.500) with three home runs (including two in game three), six RBI, and a double against the Tigers. Ben Slanker and Tague Davis also added home runs for Louisville. Davis’s homer was his 26th of the season, breaking the single-season record at Louisville formerly held by Chris Dominguez (2009) and Randy Delph (1974).
Also of note, outfielder Lucas Moore hit 100 career stolen bases in Sunday’s win over Clemson. Moore becomes the second player in Louisville history with 100 stolen bases, needing just 12 to tie Boomer Whiting for the career record (112). Moore is batting .267 this season with 27 RBI and an ACC-leading 30 stolen bases.
This Week’s Schedule
- vs. Indiana
- Tues. April 28 at 5 p.m. ET (ACCNX via ESPN+ / 93.9 The Ville / 970 AM)
- at Wake Forest
- Thurs. April 30 at 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network / 93.9 The Ville / 970 AM)
- Fri. May 1 at 6 p.m. ET (ACCNX via ESPN+ / 93.9 The Ville / 970 AM)
- Sat. May 2 at 1 p.m. ET (ACCNX via ESPN+ / 93.9 The Ville / 970 AM)
Opponent Primer: Indiana
The Hoosiers are just 19-25 heading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Cardinals, and are coming off being swept by Iowa at home last weekend. Indiana has won just two conference series this season, taking two out of three versus at home versus Minnesota (March 20-22) and Rutgers (April 3-5), and are 7-14 on the road this season.
IU is batting a respectable .282 at the plate, with Caleb Koskie (.369 batting, 34 RBI) leading the team in that category. Jake Hanley (.326/.416/.577) was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season and was the first unanimous Freshman All-American in IU history, he leads the team in RBI with 39. Hogan Denny (.348/.460/.652) leads the team in doubles (13) and home runs (12) to give the Hoosiers power in the batting order.
Indiana is allowing a 6.54 team ERA (14th in Big Ten) and allowing .281 at the plate (11th in Big Ten), but is fourth in the conference with 404 strikeouts. Ivan Mastalski (1-0, 3.89 ERA in 19 appearances) has been a regular contributor in IU’s midweek games; he pitched three shutout innings versus Ball State last weekend, and it’s likely he’ll make another appearance (possibly start) against Louisville. Jacob Vogel (1-1, 3.38 ERA in 18 appearances) and Michael Sarhatt (0-1, 6.77 ERA in 17 appearances) are other names that could make appearances on Tuesday.
Opponent Primer: Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons will be looking to bounce back after being swept on the road by Georgia Tech last weekend. Wake Forest hosts Appalachian State before welcoming the Cards this weekend, with the Demon Deacons having a 19-5 home record this season. Wake Forest does have notable wins over Coastal Carolina and NC State at home.
Batting .296 as a club this season, Wake Forest’s offensive is sixth in the ACC in that category, with 75 home runs (fourth in ACC) and 265 walks drawn (third in ACC). Kade Lewis (.374 batting, ten doubles, 12 home runs, 47 RBI) has six multi-hit games in his last eight outings, averaging .567 (17-for-30) with 19 RBI and seven homers in that stretch. Luke Costello (.328/.461/.733) adds power to the Wake Forest lineup with a team-high 15 home runs and 53 RBI, with Javar Williams (.326/.452/.537, ten doubles, 34 RBI) logging 27 stolen bases (second in ACC, behind Louisville’s Lucas Moore).
Expect Chris Levonas (8-3, 2.89 ERA), Cameron Bagwell (2-1, 4.13 ERA), and potentially Troy Dressler (6-1, 4.75 ERA) to start this weekend for the Demon Deacons. Levonas leads the ACC with 89 strikeouts and is allowing just .174 at the plate, but will be looking to bounce back after giving up five earned runs against Georgia Tech on April 24th. Bagwell had ten strikeouts against Georgia Tech on April 26th.
Wake Forest has two really solid relievers in Will Ray (1-0, 1.86 ERA in 12 appearances) and Evan Jones (2-1, 3.14 ERA in 17 appearances), both whom have two saves apiece this season. Ray has had shutouts in ten of his 12 appearances this season, with Jones having shutouts in four of his last seven outings. Ryan Bosch (0-1, 4.22 ERA in 15 appearances) has four shutouts in his last five appearances (four innings of work), with Zach Johnston (4.85 ERA in 15 appearances) also being a frequent contributor in Wake Forest’s bullpen.
